Today’s Essential Attitude I would like to write about is
FLEXIBILITY.
Flexibility is important in homeschooling because we are
training little people, not assembling robots. Each day will be different with
its new challenges. Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us when we are
least expecting them. Just when we think that we are finally starting to get
this parenting thing figured out, a child will do something outlandish to show
us exactly where our faith and dependence need to remain.
It is important that we have a mindset of flexibility and
put it into practice. This will likely call for a great deal of patience,
especially if you are the type of parent who likes all their ducks in a row and
everything scheduled. A group can only
move as fast as its slowest member. This might require slowing down and taking
in the scenery sometimes!
Making a plan and following it is important, but be sure to
build in enough time to keep it flexible as well. Teachable moments come and go
quickly, and we must take advantage of them when the opportunity arises. They
may never come again. If we are so rigid in our scheduling that we miss the
chance to answer a question, or touch our children’s hearts, that moment may be
lost forever. That child may feel that their question or silly little story was
not important enough to interrupt our day, and they may never ask it again.
Children will have sick days, storms and natural phenomenon
will happen, power goes out, visitors come in, friends have a crisis…. All
these are events that naturally take place in life, and provide great life
training. When God sends them our way, we should always thank Him for the
lessons, and take that moment to reach into the heart of our children, showing
them the way that God would want us to take care of these things, and building
memories.
Our children may or may not remember that they finished a
certain workbook, but they will remember those ‘big moments’ when their family
made good memories taking care of an unforeseen circumstance. Plan your work
and work your plan…but while you are doing so, be sure to leave enough
flexibility for the real lessons of life!
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Stop by and see what other homeschool moms are writing about, as they share what their homeschool essentials are!Ellen @ Grace Tells Another Story
Jenn @ Treasuring Life's Blessings
Christine @ Our Homeschool Reviews
Michelle @ Delightful Learning
Sharon @ Life With The Tribe
Hillary @ Our Homeschool Studio
Melanie @ FinchNWren
Brittney @ Mom's Heart
Heather @ Principled Academy
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So true, Erica! I find that if I can combine laughter with trying to move our family thru those unforeseen, unexpected moments, it helps to get us over the hump. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes...I wrote about flexibility yesterday!
ReplyDeleteYes, flexibility is a must!
ReplyDeleteI love this: "Plan your work and work your plan…but while you are doing so, be sure to leave enough flexibility for the real lessons of life!" This is what will help to equip them for the real world and to also help train them in seeing God's Providential Hand in their lives. ~Heather @ Principled Academy/the Crew
ReplyDeleteLove this! My dd asked that I add this to my five days so it will be day 5. She likes to take breaks and get time off...I need to work on this. ;)
ReplyDeleteYay for flexibility! Happy to see it on your list. It IS a virtue! :)
ReplyDeleteI had a very hard time with flexibility when we started. I do better now, but I still have a hard time when something shakes my day!
ReplyDelete